Mechanism for processing fruit



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' MECHANISM FOR PROCESSING FRUIT V 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed April 22 1949 Aug. 25, 1953 v R. 'EWALD ET AL MECHANISM FOR PROCESSING FRUIT Filed April 22, 1949 1i Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTORJ M17 PM? l atentecl Aug. 25, 1953 MECHANISM FOR PROCESSING FRUIT Raymond L. Ewald and Henry A. Skog, Olympia,

Wash., assignors to Special Equipment Company, Portland, reg., a corporation of Oregon Application April 22, 1949, Serial No. 89,124

Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for processing fruit having a stem indent, such as peaches, apples, apricots and other fruit having stem indents, and more particularly, it relates to suture plane or long axis stem indent inspection means, for determining whether or not the suture plane of the peach is properly oriented, and it also relates to mechanism operated by the inspector means.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide, in a machine for processing whole peache which includes the operations of cutting the peaches in half and/or pitting the separate halves, means for feeding whole peaches to the bisecting and pitting means or other fruit cutting means, or in association with the feeding means and the bisecting and fruit cutting means, there is provided orienting means including a member shaped to correspond with the long axis of the stem indent and associated peach supporting means, together with mechanism for causing a relative'shifting movement between the peach support upon the supporting means and this orienting member whereby to cause the orienting member to project into the long axis of the stem indent to a maximum distance which corresponds with the proper orientation of the peach with respect to a predetermined plane, and in association with the foregoing mechanism which forms a particular feature of the present invention, there is provided suture plane inspection means which is adapted relatively to move the whole peach as the-latter is fed to certain processing stations of the machine and whereby there is also provided in association with such movable inspection means, mechanism operable by the relative movement of the peach and theinspecting means as they move together for, preventing a cutting operation being performed upon the peach in the event that the inspection means determines that'the suture plane of the peach has not been properly oriented; to provide, in combination with mechanism for orienting a whole fruit to position the fruit in a predetermined position, means for conveying the fruit which has been subject to an orienting operation in combination with inspector mechanism travelling bodily with the conveyed fruit for inspecting a stem indent of the whole fruit to determine whether or notthe core axis of the fruit is so properly oriented, and in association with such travelling inspector-means, additional mechanism controlled thereby for preventing any subsequent cutting operation to be performed upon the whole fruit in the event the fruit be improperly oriented, to provide in combination with whole peach orienting means functioning to orient a suture plane of a whole peach into a predetermined plane and in combination with feeding means for feeding such oriented fruit to processing means including means to cut the fruit, inspector means operating upon the fruit while being conveyed by the feeding means and controlling mechanism for discharging the fruit from the feeding means if the suture plane be not properly oriented and/or also means for positively preventing locking or stop-ping the cutting means from cutting into the fruit when proper orientation is not effected; to provide in combination with whole peach suture plane orienting means, and peach bisecting means, feeding means for feeding a whole peach from the orienting mechanism to the bisecting mechanism together with suture plane inspection means adapted to move with the travelling conveyed fruit and operable thereon while so travelling to determine whether or not the suture plane of the peach is properly oriented, and if not, to actuate mechanism to discharge the peach from said feeding means prior to the peach being fed to the bisecting means and alternatively operable if the peach be properly oriented as to suture plane to cause the feeding means to continue to feed the properly oriented whole peach to the peach bisecting or other processing means; to provide in combination with a machine having means orienting a whole peach as to its suture plane, whole peach feeding means for feeding the whole peach to peach cutting means in combination with peach inspector means having an elongated peach contacting member shaped generally to conform to the long axis of the stem indent and operable upon the peach as the peach is conveyed by peach-conveying means and actuating additional mechanism for positively locking the peach cutting means from operation upon a peach if the suture plane of the peach be not properly oriented; or alternatively discharging the improperly oriented peach from the conveyor before the peach can be cut to provide these and other objects of invention asrwill be apparent from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1' is a View of the machine as seen from the infeeding and pitting stations;

Figure 2 is a plan section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l Figure '3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a plan section taken on the line ?--'I of Figure 8 with portions of the inspection mechanism of the present invention associated therewith;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fi ure 7 showing portions of the inspector and fruit discharging mechanism;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view showing a part of the inspector mechanism and taken on the line e e of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the whole fruit cup showing the interior boss-like member shaped to correspond with the long axi of the stem indent;

Figure 11 is a detailed section taken on the line I ii I of Figure 6;

Figure 12 is a plan sectional view taken on the line l2i 2 of Figure 6;

Figure 13 is a section taken on the line 53-!3 of Figure 6, showing the clamping jaws in plan section;

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the peach holding jaws;

Figure 15 is a plan sectional view of certain portions of the inspector mechanism apparatus and being taken on the line iii-E5 of Figure 8;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of some of the parts which comprise a portion of the inspector mechanism;

Figure 1'? is a sectional view taken on the line iii-41 of Figure 12;

Figure 18 is a section taken on the line iii-I8 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a view showing a changed position of the parts shown in Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a view showing a changed. position of the parts as shown in Figure 19;

Figure 21 is a section on the line -2! of Figure 6;

Figure 522 shows detailed perspective views of a form of whole peach cutting means;

Figure 23 is a sectional view taken on the line 23-43 of Figure 2;

Figure 24 is a side view of Figure 23 and looking in the direction of the arrows 242l;

Figure 25 is a view similar to Figure 17, and taken on the line 25-25 of Figure 26;

Figure 26 is a view similar to Figure 18 taken on the line 26-45 of Figure 25;

Figures 27 and 28 are views similar to Figures 25 and 26, showing changed positions of the parts as shown in Figures 25 and 26;

Figure 29 is a view similar to Figure 25, showing a modified type of construction and being taken on the line 2929 of Figure 30;

Figure 30 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 29 and looking in the direction of the arrows 30-39;

Figure 31 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in detail some of the operating mechanism; and

Figure 32 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line 3232 of Figure 3.

General machine structure The invention of the present construction preferably takes the form of an upright, substantially square main frame comprising four 4 corner posts or angle irons 2, 4, 6, and 8 (see Figures 1, 3 and 1), suitably braced at top and bottom by cross-braces l9 and I2. In addition, other hereinafter described cross bars serve as rigid supports for these upright members. In a general way, extending laterally from this rectangular frame projects a supplementary frame adapted to be bolted or otherwise attached thereto, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, which supplementar frame is utilized to support the mechanism which initially receives and orients the fruit, the mechanism which severe the peeling at the stem cavity of the fruit, which severe the fruit in halves and which transports the severed halves to the pitting, peeling, fruit-discharging and peel-scavenging mechanism.

The main upright frame hereinbefore described is provided on a relatively low level thereof with horizontally disposed shafts I4 and IS, the latter being power driven through a clutch mechanism (see Figure 1) by means of a belt i5, adapted, in turn, to be driven from any suitable motor 28. The clutch mechanism is of any desirable construction capable of connecting and disconnecting the power source to the main operating shaft of the machine.

The shaft it carries a gear 2 i, driving another gear 22 on the horizontal shaft Hi. This shaft i carries two main earns '24 and 26' fixed on opposite ends thereof. Each of these cams are double-faced so as to provide cam operating means on each side thereof. Cam face 24a comprises a cam track in which operates a hereinafter described roller on a vertically recipr-ocable slide for raising and lowering the main tool carrying slide hereinafter described. An opposed cam face forms a roller race, in which a roller on a horizontally reciprocable slide 28 shifts in a horizontal motion transversely to the shaft I l. This slide carries on its outer end a bearing pivot 35} linked tov a bearing pivot 32 on an arm 3 fixed on a vertical shaft 35. This shaft has fixed hearings in the housing frame 2 of the main upright frame of the machine. Vertical shaft 36 is oscillated by the slide 2% for operating the peeling mechanism, the details of which are not herein shown.

The cam 25 of the shaft M has a cam face 260. forming a cam race, which operates a roller, connected to and operating a horizontally reciprocable slide 35, as shown in Figure 3. This slide 38 is also provided on its outer end with bearing 42 havin a vertical pin 42, to the lower end of which is pivoted a link M. This link H carries at its outer end an arm it, the outer bearing as of which is pinned to a vertical oscillatable shaft 59, which is mounted in the corner post ii of the frame opposite the vertical shaft 36. This shaft 5%} has affixed to its upper end an arm hereinafter referred to, which, in turn pivotally connects at its outer end to a relatively long rod running diagonally across to a universal connection which is, in turn, connected to a mechanism that operates a sector gear reciprocable about a horizontal axis for operating the mechanism which actuates the pitting knives, the details of which are also herein omitted.

Cam race 26b operates a vertically recipro cable slide 52 (Figure 6, our Patent 2,398,789), the upper end of which is provided with a rod 54, having a rack tooth portion 56 operating a pinion 58 on a horizontal shaft as. This shaft 69 has on one end a bevel gear 62 which, in turn, operates bevel gear 54% on shaft 56. having hearings. on the outside of the vertical frame member and on the same level as the main fruit cup turret hereinafter described, which turret is above that lower level of the machine at which the shafts I4 and I6 are located. The shaft 66 operates the mechanism for oscillating the fruit discharging means, to eject the processed half fruit from the machine.

A second level of the main rectangular frame of the machine bounded by the uprights 2 to 8, inclusive, provides the location for the Geneva gears for driving the main or half fruit-holding turret, and also the whole fruit turret, including the driving means therebetween, whereby the main or half fruit holder turret is driven at twice the speed as the whole fruit turret. To effect this function, the shaft I4 carries between its ends a bevel gear IIO (see Figure 3) meshing with a bevel gear II2 on a vertical shaft II 4 mounted in thebearing H6 carried by a cross frame H6.

This cross frame is supported at one end by suitable vertical brace connected to a cross bar I20 (see Figure 5), in turn carried by the vertical upright frame members 4 and 8. The opposite end I22 of cross frame H8 is bolted to an end support by a projection I24 from a horizontal cross bar I26 carried by the opposite vertical uprights 2 and 6 of the main frame at about the level of the cross frame II8. This cross bar I26 is preferably an integral part of the substantial triangularly shaped supplementary frame carrying the whole fruit turret.

Shaft I I4 carries a bevel gear I I2 and also carries above it a gear I28, which latter meshes with a second gear I30 on a bearing I32 on the cross frame I I 8. Gear I30 meshes with the larger gear I34 horizontally fixed on vertical shaft I36 having a bearing in cross frame II8. Turret shaft I36 is surrounded by a bearing I38, above which is a long sleeve I39, along which is fixed a Geneva gear, I40 having slots cooperating with a Geneva member I42 on shaft II4. This latter Geneva member I42 has a circular periphery on which is mounted roller I44 for cooperation with the radial slots of gear I40 aforesaid for intermittently rotating sleeve I39 and for holding it stationary between partial turns. The upright shaft II4 above the Geneva member carries a'sprocket gear I46 (see Figure 5) driving a chain I48 running horizontally across the frame of the machine to a larger sprocket I50 fixed to shaft I52. This shaft is mounted upon a substantially triangular frame I53 carried by and integral with the cross bar I26. The frame 53 carries a bearing for the shaft I 52, and also has a heavy extension bearing I54 for the whole fruit turret shaft I55. Both of these shafts are'vertical and parallel to each other. The whole fruit turret shaft I55 extends 'vertically'upward toward the top of'the frame.

The shaft I52 has pinned thereto just above the bearing I53 a part of theGeneva, this part carrying-the roller I58.

In addition, the shaft I52 has pinned below the support I54 a gear wheel I59 which m'esheswith another gear I56, which is' pinned to the bottom of the shaft I55. Just above the gear I56; cam I60 is pinned to shaft I55, and above'the bearing I54 the shaft I55 carries a relatively long sleeve I6'I 'to which is keyed the cooperative part I62 of the Geneva, whereby, through theintermediary of the Geneva I62, the sleeve I6! is intermittently rotated. Sleeve I6I carries the whole fruit feed turret.

;Whol e fruit feed station and orienting means.

In accordance'with the present invention initial feeding and orienting means is provided for the fruit whereby an operator may feed whole peaches one at a time to the whole fruit holding mechanism carried by the whole fruit turret, and such mechanism comprises orienting means and automatically shiftable means preferably including a concave receiver, into which a whole peach is placed by the operator, so that the stem indent and suture plane of the whole fruit is precisely and definitely located with respect to this receiver, whereby upon the shiftable operation of this feeding mechanism'or receiver, the whole peach is properly oriented both as to stem indent and suture plane, and also automatically conveyed to whole peach gripping means preferably in the form of spaced fingers or jaws which are adapted automatically to grip the whole fruit adjacent and on substantially opposite sides of the suture plane of the whole 'fuit, and thereafter firmly to hold the whole fruit in the precise position in which it was placed in the first mentioned whole fruit receiving means. Thereafter this whole fruit gripping means is turned by the turret mechanism carrying it to a plurality of stations provided with mechanism for operating upon the peach while thus precisely held.

Direct positioning and orientation of the whole peach in the machine and the maintenance of control of a certain alignment with respect to the suture plane and stem cavity is very important for efficient results obtained from successive processing operations on the peach while it is fed through the machine. It is undesirable to provide feeding mechanism which gives the operator any particular leeway in properly placing the peach in the feeding jaws of the whole'fruit turret, and therefore the hereinbefore described means is provided for eliminating chance and guesswork by the provision of means whereby the operator merely places the stem cavity of the whole peach over a locating means, and in the construction of the whole fruit receiver with concaved walls, whereby the rounded body of the peach automatically aligns its suture, so that subsequent operations may be exactly determined.

To this end therefore, mechanism for feeding a whole peach to fruit holding mechanism of the whole fruit turret is illustrated as an arm I63, Figure 1, pivoted at I64, and provided with a roller I65 working in the cam race of the cam I60. The outer end of the arm I63 has pivoted thereto an elongated rod-like arm I66, the upper end of which is pivoted as at I65, to a lever I60 pivoted in turn at I61 to a stationary extension frame or bracket I69. This bracket, as shown in Figure 7, is made adjustable. The lever I 68 carries on its outer end a guideway I15. The guideway is disclosed more in detail in Figures 9, 10 and 13 and is so arranged that a block IN is slidable therein, being normally and resiliently pushed to upward position by means of a spring I12. This block has attached to it a rod I1I' which slides through an opening I12 in the bottom plate of the slide I10. The bottom plate has an opening through which this rod I1 I may slide and the lower end of the rod carries a head which contacts the under face of the end of the guideway I10 and since the bottom of the spring I12 bears between the bottom end of the guideway I10 and the lower face I13 of slide IN, the

reason of its resiliency permits some latitude in the positioning of the whole fruit with respect to the stationary support of the whole fruit receiving jaws as hereinafter set forth, so as to accommodate the fruits or peaches of different sizes, resulting from the usual grading 'fOr size which is about one quarter inch in diameter between successive grades. In addition this spring I12 is cooperative with the slide and operates the movement of the slide III as hereinafter made evident from an inspection of the drawings to cause a shifting of the whole fruit relatively to and on the orienting member I'M.

The outer end of the slide I'II carries means for orienting a whole fruit with reference to the longitudinal axis of the stem indent of the whole fruit and for supporting the fruit thus properly oriented as to its suture plane. Specifically the outer end of the slide carries a whole fruit receiver or cradle H shown in detail in Figure 10. This receiver includes a substantially centrally located stem cavity position or suture plane orienting means I'M, which is elongated as shown, and is designed substantially to fit within the longitudinal aXis of the stem indent or cavity of the whole peach. The central longitudinal axis of this orienting means I'I l lies radially of the whole fruit receiving turret ill and a vertical plane passing through this axis lies intermediate the two pairs of jaws iiii and E9? of the whole fruit jaws as seen in Figure 9. A vertical plane passing through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means lies in the suture plane of the peach when the longitudinal axis of the stem cavity of the peach exactly registers with and fits over the longitu inal axis of the orienting means I'M.

In addition, on opposite sides thereof, the cradle is provided with concaved or rounded walls which are substantially cup-shaped. These walls at the rear are cut away as shown at I79, so

as not to interfere with the opening and closing movements of the lower whole fruit holding fingers or jaws, as shown in Figure 8. It will be noted that the lever ,arm I68 is arranged so that, when in position to place the whole fruit between the holding jaws hereinafter referred to, the stem axis of the whole peach is angularly disposed with respect to a horizontal line passing through the center of the whole fruit receiving means. Specifically the stem axis is downwardly inclined about 30 degrees to such line. This is particularly important because, as the whole fruit is carried by the gripping means of the whole fruit turret, it must be maintained in this exact position.

The central longitudinal axis of the orienting means i'l l, as shown in Figure 2, is not only in alignment with the radius of the whole fruit receiving turret I'll but also with the radius of the turret 382 whereby once the suture plane of the whole peach is properly registered and lined up with the vertically disposed central longitudinal plane through the long axis of the orienting means I'M the whole peach thus oriented will be fed to the whole fruit gripping jaws which will grip the peach on opposite sides of the suture plane and hold it thus oriented. Thereafter upon partial rotation of the whole fruit turret I'll the peach maintained in this oriented position will be carried to the sawing station wherein the saw 3'16 has its plane of rotation disposed radially of this same turret Ill? 50 that as the saw acts upon the oriented peach the saw will cut through the suture plane of the flesh and pit of the peach- Thereafter as will hereinafter be 'set forth, the sawed halves of the peach thus held together with their suture planes properly oriented will be carried to the main turret 382, and be deposited in the half cups in such a manner that the suture plane will lie substantially fiush with the top of the cup and the long central axis of the pit will lie radially of the turret 382 and also extending radially of the division lines of the two cup sections, and will also extend radially of the turret 382 which carries the two pitter blades P as shown in Figure 2, so that in the pitting of each half pit section the two pivotally swinging pitter blades will move about axes parallel with the long axis of the pit and will cut around the long curved marginal edges of the pit, meeting on the underside of the .pit whereby cleanly to sever the pit from the flesh of the half peach.

It will thus be seen that the receiver I75 and particularly the orienting or positioning member I74 provides orienting means for efiecting the orienting of the whole fruit, and specifically a whole peach, both in respect to its stem indent and suture plane prior to and as the fruit is conveyed and introduced into the transferring or conveying mechanisms of the machine, now to be further described. It will be noted that the slope of the receiver walls, the character of the orienting member I'M which is shaped to lie within and extend longitudinally of the peach stem indent along the suture plane, and the movement of the receiver causes the fruit to be shifted relatively to the orienting member I'M and hence to be oriented both in respect to its stem indent and suture plane, whereby subsequent cutting and processing operations will be properly effected in respect thereto, as Will presently appear.

In addition to the foregoing orienting means for positioning the suture plane of the whole ruit in a predetermined plane, means is also provided for shifting the orienting means I'M relatively to the whole peach while the whole peach is supported on said orienting means I'M.

In the manual feeding of peaches to the present machine, an operator is required quickly to place a succession of whole peaches one after another on the cradle or whole fruit receiver I15. In the normally intended operation, the operator attempts to place each peach so that the long axis of the stern indent will overlie and fit exactly on and over the long axis of the orienting means I 74. In numerous cases due either 'to fast feeding conditions or inaccuracies or indifierences the peach may be placed on the orienting means I'M so that its long axis does not exactly coincide with the long axis of the stem indent of the peach. In instances the long axis of the stem indent of the whole peach and the long axis of the orienting means may be angularly disposed or in those cases where such two long axes do register, still due to slight projections, bumps or abnormalities in the side walls of the stem cavity the suture plane of the peach may be slightly tilted out of a vertical plane through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means I14.

In order to cause correct registration of the long axis of the stem indent of the peach with the long axis centrally of the orienting means I14 and to cause a plane passing diametrically through the peach and through the long axis of the stem indent to register with a plane passing vertically through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means I14 whereby correctly to Si orient the suture plane radially vertically of the whole fruit receiving turret I11 and passing between the two pairs of whole peach holding jaws as seen in Figure 9, means is provided for relatively shifting the orienting mean-s I14 and the whole peach supported thereon in a manner to cause the two long axes of the stem indent of the peach and the central long axis of the orienting means to shift angularly relatively into exact registration with the suture plane thereof lying in said vertical r-adia1 plane of the turret I11, As

shown in Fig. 1, the peach, while resting in the holder I15, leans forward toward the machine and rests on orientator I14 and the inner walls of the holder I15. The peach turns about an axis which passes through the pit lengthwise thereby causing the suture plane to come into proper alignment.

This function is additionally accomplished in the present device by forming the cam I60 with relatively small projections or rough surfaces I69 in the cam race in which the roller I65 works. The cam may be of cast-iron with inherent rough surfaces I69, but preferably the cam I60 is formed of hardened metal having inherent roughness I69 in the cam track or race whereby vibration is imparted by such roughened surface to the roller I65. This vibration is considerably multiplied, approximately on a six-fold basis by means of the lever I63, the arm I66, lever I68 to the receiver I15. Thus an additional movement or vibration is imparted to the orienting means I14 upon which the whole fruit is placed. By thus supporting the whole fruit on the orienting means I14 while imparting vertical movement or vibration to this orienting means I14, the peach is vibrated sufficiently so that misplacement of the peach upon this orienting projection I14 will cause the peach to shift or turn about a vertical axis, and angularly relatively to the longitudinal means I14 so that the long axis of the stem indent of the peach will come to aligned position with the central longitudinal axis of the longitudinal means I14. Furthermore, in the event that peaches have slight projections, these bumps or creases on the side walls of their stem indent-s would otherwise prevent the peach from settling down on the orienting means I14. It will be found that such abnormalities on the side walls of the stem indent will cause the suture plane of the peach to be slanted a slight amount to the vertical plane through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means I14. It has been found that'the vibration imparted to the peach in the manner aforesaid will vibrate the peach sufliciently so that the orienting means will pass by these bumps, projections or creases and the peach will settle down to its maximum extent onto the orienting means I14 and thereby cause the suture plane of the peach to swing toward the vertical plane and hence to coincide with "the vertical plane through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means whereby each succes sive peach is positioned and properly oriented with its suture plane vertical and aligned with the plane passing centrally of and through the long axis of the orienting means. Hence during this vibration as the oriented peach is conveyed by upward movement of the lever I68 fromthe position shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 8, and the peach placed between the four jaws of the whole fruit turret, the peach will be oriented and positioned so that its suture plane is disposed vertically and aligned centrally of the In addition, this jaw is provided with an up-' four jaws and radially of a vertical plane pass-' ate they will cut in a predetermined manner with refcrenec to the suture plane of the peach and so also when the peach is passed to the saw mechanism the plane of operation of the sawing mechanism will coincide with the suture plane of the oriented peach and the saw will sever through the whole peach substantially on and through the suture plane of the peach.

Whole fruit conveying mechanism Referrin now to the turret proper and to the fruit holding jaws, it will be observed that the intermittently rotatable sleeve I6! carries an additional sleeve E11 and affixed thereto are a plurality of post supports I18, such supports being radially spaced around the central vertical axis of the turret. Each one of these supports H8, in turn, is provided with an upright extension upon which the whole fruit holding jaws are mounted. By reference to Figures 6 to 16, inclusive, the construction and operation of these jaws will be apparent. The lower jaw I8I is pivoted as at I to the upright I88. This lower jaw is formed with two integral spaced apart jaws or fruit gripping fingers I8I, which have concaved portions I62 and I83 adapted to engage the curvilinear contour of the whole peach on opposite sides of a plane passing substantially vertically through the plane of the suture, as shown in Figures 9 and 12.

In addition, this lower jaw MI is provided at its rear end with an angularly disposed tooth projection I84, and is provided with a connection I85 with a coil spring I86 as hereinafter set forth. The upper jaw is made in two pieces, whereas the lower jaw is preferably made in a single piece. The details of construction of the upper jaw are shown in Figures 13 and 14. This upper jaw comprises a head portion I91 centrally apertured as at I88. The head is provided with a lateral lug I89 hereinafter referred to, and with an operating roller I90 on its upper portion, and a laterally extending tooth arm IQI, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the arm of the lower clamping jaw of the whole fruit holding mechanism. In addition, the head portion I 91 is provided with a laterally extending fruit clamping jaw I92 having a curvilinear fruit contacting face I93 for engaging the contour of the peach on one side of the plane of the suture.

standing lug I94, to which the upper ends of the spring I86 connect. the upper jaw is formed with a round bearing I95, which easily fits within the opening 83 of the head I91 to permit relative angular movement between the parts. This head is provided with a furcation in the form of a rearwardly extending lug 696, which is adapted to receive the lug I89 therebetween that is formed on the cooperative portion of the first portion of the upper gripping jaws. In addition, this part of' the its to grip thecontour of the peach on the op- The cooperative part of posite sides of the suture planes, as shown in Figures 9 and 14. The furcation E86 and the cooperating lug we provide a lost motion connection, which permits two portions of this upper jaw to have vertical adjustment, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, whereby in the event a peach is held, which is of smaller diameter on one side of the suture plane than the other, the upper gripping jaw will adjust itself accordingly, whereby to hold the peach precisely as it is inserted between these jaws when they move together under the tension of the closing springs I36. There are a pair of springs for each jawone on each side of the vertical plane through the central portion of these jaws-the upper ends being attached to the pins I9 and E35, respectively, and the lower ends of the springs being attached to the pins IE and I85 of the lower jaws. It will be noted that the holding portions 18!, I8I of the lower jaws and the portions E92, I91 of the upper jaws are spaced apart to permit the entry of the saw 3'56 therebetween in the subsequent cutting operation of the peach through its suture plane, presently to be described, so that the saw may completely sever the entire peach and its pit while held in these jaws. It will be further noted that this space between these fingers iili, 5-3: and W2 and iii? lies in the suture plane of the peach, which is approximately the plane of the maximum diameter of the peach, or parallel thereto.

Means for operating the jaw mechanism of the whole fruit holding means comprises a cam 2% which is splined to the upper end of the shaft I55. This cam is provided with an internal camway adapted to receive a roller 282 mounted upon a slide 253G disposed immediately beneath the cam and lying transversely across the shaft 255. The slide is suitably slotted as at 255 (see Figures 6 and 12) to permit movement of the slide back and forth transversely across the axis of the shaft l55. The slot is adapted to move in guideways 2% fixed to the extension support of the machine. The bottom portion of the slide is provided with two depending lugs forming extensions thereon. These lugs are 186 degrees apart. The cam race 232 of cam 236 extends 360 degrees of a total annular travel or" the cam. When the slide 254 is moved toward the feed-in station, i. e., away from the main or half fruit turret, the depending lug nearest the main turret moves toward the feed-in station, and thereby pushes the roller see on the top of the upper finger of the corresponding whole fruit jaws inwardly toward the shaft 55, thereby positively to open these fruit jaws. Simultaneously, the opposite lug m, which is spaced 180 degrees therefrom, moves in the same direction to permit the spring I85 to close the oppositely located fruit clamping jaws about or into engagement with a peach positioned by the fruit receiving saddle I35, and thereby hold the whole fruit firmly between the fingers of the jaws. Any variations in size of successive peaches are automatically compensated for by the yielding action of the springs i852 between the upper and lower clamping jaws, and any deviations in size on opposite sides of the plane of the suture of the peach are compensated for by the relative movement between the members of the upper fruit jaw.

The upright I18 on turret I'I'I has rigidly bolted thereto as at 2I2 a laterally projecting backing member 2I4, which is shaped as shown in Figure 8 thereby to position and firmly to hold the rear portion of the peach positioned between the clamping jaws by the whole fruit receiver I15.

By reason of the foregoing construction, the whole fruit turret is intermittently rotated to position each pair of fruit holding jaws at the receiving station, during which time the jaws are automatically held in open position while a whole peach is fed onto the peach-receiving cradle H5 in a manner hereinafter set forth, and thereafter the receiver I15 is moved upwardly to position the peach, as shown in Figure 8, during which time the upper and lower jaws of the clamping members are cam released so as to resiliently approach the peach to grasp and hold it firmly and precisely in the before described predetermined position.

At the same time that the turret is moved, the shaft I55 is synchronously driven to operate automatically the cam and slide hereinbefore mentioned to cause these proper opening and closing movements of these jaws in timed relation.

Further referring to the foregoing mechanism, once the whole peach is placed manually with the long or suture plane axis of its stem cavity registering with and oriented by the positioning nib I14 of the fruit cradle, as illustrated in Figure 9, the whole peach will thereafter be raised upwardly to the position shown in Figure 8, with the stem axis downwardly inclined from the horizontal, as therein shown, and with the suture plane in predetermined position. .At this time the whole fruit jaws firmly grasp the fruit as hereinbefore set forth, whereupon the fruitreceiving cradle moves downwardly, the turret then automatically shifts to the stem cavity trimming station; and at the same time an empty set of whole fruit holding jaws is brought into registration ready for the next upward movement of the whole fruit receiving cradle.

It will thus be seen that the whole fruit conveying means cooperates with the orienting means in the infeed station to preserve the orientation of the fruit, both in respect to its stem indent and its suture plane, as the fruit is presented to processing means new to be described.

Fruit processing means Various fruit processing operations are conducted upon the fruit, in accordance with the present invention, some of which may be effected while the fruit is held by the whole fruit conveyor, and others of which are effected as and after the fruit is transmitted to the half fruit conveyor. The several processing operations such as cutting the fruit, bisecting the fruit, pitting the fruit which, are effected as and/or after the fruit is transmitted to the half fruit conveyor are described in our aforementioned Patent No. 2,398,780. In the present invention, two types of cutting operations are shown and described which are performed upon the fruit, and both of which are associated with, and in a sense depend upon, the proper suture plane orientation of the whole peach. In one of these cutting operations, in its specific embodiment, cutting means operates upon the surface of the peach at the stem indent, and the cutting operation is dependent upon whether or not the suture plane of the peach is properly oriented. The other cutting operation comprises a bisecting operation, and particularly and specifically, but not by way of limitation, the sawing operation diametrically entirely through the whole peach on or substantially parallel to the suture plane thereof. This cutting operation is necessarily 13 inherently dependent upon a proper orientation of the suture plane of the whole peach because the cut must be formed on or substantially on the suture plane for the proper subsequent processing including pitting of the half peaches.

In the present invention I have shown as part of the processing of the peach, both cutting operations to be formed on the peach; in certain aspects of the invention, the cutting of the peach or peeling of the peach at the stem indent might not necessarily be needed. However, the bisecting of the peach as a part of the processing operation is required and necessary for the subsequent pitting operation.

For the purposes of the disclosure of this invention, the stem cavity peeling means is included in addition to the peach bisecting means, and this mechanism will now be described because in association with certain portions thereof, there is provided inspection means to determine whether or not the suture plane of the whole peach has been properly oriented, together with associated means not only for discharging the peach from the conveying mechanism in the event that the suture plane be not properly oriented but also means for positively looking or preventing the operation of the cutting means for operating on the peach in the event that the suture plane of the peach be not properly oriented. In connection with this suture plane mechanism and peach discharging mechanism, it is not necessary to use those cut-- ting means which peel the stem cavity of the whole peach as the mechanism without the cutting means thereon is adapted to operate in association with the inspector mechanism, and, therefore, one need only to remove the stem indent cutting blades to eliminate that particular cutting action on the peach while preserving the remaining construction which cooperates with and forms a part of the suture plane inspecting mechanism.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is disclosed herewith as one of the cutting means which is disposed to cut the peach with relation to the suture plane thereof, in this instance the cutting means comprising stem indent peeling operation and an associated sensing or inspecting operation performed upon the fruit in connection therewith and as herein shown the sensing mechanism operates to roll along the curved surface of the periphery of the fruit while the latter is supported and radially to enter the stem indent of the fruit to a maximum extent if the longitudinal axis of the stern indent be aligned with the plane of the rotatable sensing means, but not otherwise. The turret position at which these last mentioned sensing and stem indent cutting and peeling operations are effected is best illustrated in Figures 17 to 22 inclusive wherein it will be seen that the mechanism comprises a rotatable sensing wheel 283 which en-.

gages the surface of the whole fruit and moves into the stem indent longitudinally of the suture plane axis, and a pair of rotatable cutter devices 288 and 288 for peeling the stem indent, all of which are coaxially mounted upon a shaft 230 and are operable upon the whole fruit as and after the whole fruit conveyor has moved so asv 14 Figure 12, so as to effect the sawing of the fruit body and the sawing of the fruit pit directly through the fruit suture plane.

Referring first to the stem cavity peeling means, it will be seen by reference to'Figure 1 that mounted on the top of the frame 12 is a motor 216, which drives a belt 218 to pulley 228 on the shaft 222. This shaft, in addition carries a worm gear 224 driving another gear 228 (see Figure 18) on the vertical shaft 238. This shaft 238 is connected by means of a universal joint 232 to a telescopic shaft arrangement 234, which has pinned to the lower portion of the telescopic shaft arrangement a bevel gear 236. This telescopic shaft arrangement includes a driving key 238 of usual construction, and a spring 288 whereby to cause the bevel gear. to be driven from the shaft 238 While permitting relative reciprocation of the movable portions of the telescopic shaft, and while at the same time permitting a swinging movement of the cutter mechanism driven by the bevel gear 236, as hereinafter set forth.

In addition to the telescopic shaft 234, there is provided a swinging frame arrangement adjacent thereto comprising a bracket 242 rigidly mounted upon a support portion 244 of the main frame. This bracket 242 includes an outstanding pin-like bearing 246, upon which a hub portion 248 of a mounting is adapted to oscillate. This hub portion 248 has a depending socket 258 having a depending shaft 252 affixed thereto as at 254. The bottom portion of this shaft 252 has slidably, adjustably affixed thereto a carriage 255 (see Figures 1'7 and 18). The upper portion of this carriage is provided with a smaller sleeve 332 carrying a pin 258, on which a pair of rollers 262 are mounted. The lower portion of the carriage carries a ring-like member 264 having a depending bracket 256, which, as shown in Figure 18, comprises arms 268 and 218 and a sleevelike support 212 for the bottom portion of the telescopic shaft 234. The central arm 210 has a lower portion 218 forming at its bottom end a bearing 218 for the bottom portion of the telescopic shaft arrangement 234. Mounted in the arms 268 and 210 of this lower carriage is the shaft 288, to which is affixed a bevel-gear 282 for driving the same from the bevel gear 236. Also mounted upon this shaft 288 between the arms 268 and 2H! is the peeling cutter arrangement comprising the stem cavity sensing or inspecting wheel 283 and stem cavity peeling and suture plane cutters 288 and 288 previously referred to in reference to Figure 12. This wheel 283 has opposite hubs 284 loosely mounted on shaft 288, the wheel thus being rotatably mounted so that it can roll on its shaft down into and out of the stem cavity, carrying with it the pair of rotating cutter blades 288 and 280. Adjacent each hub 284 is a collar 285 and 288, which are keyed to the shaft 288 and form a sup-port for the said cutter blades 288 and 298, which are of the general configurations shown in the drawings, and are attached to the collars 285 and 286 by means of the screws 292. It will be noted that the cutter members are staggered degrees, so as to counterbalance the high speed rotation of the cutter shaft. Each cutter com- .prises generally concaved portions 294 on opposite sides of the wheel 283, and because of this opposite arrangement of these concaved portions of the cutters in combination with the wheel 283, which is adapted to roll in the suture plane axis of the central portion of the peach 15 cavity, the cutters as they rotate will completely and precisely cut and sever the peel from the stem cavity.

.ltleans is provided for oscillating the cutter about :its swingable bearing pin 246, and, in association therewith, there is provided a cam mechanism to give the'cutter a definiteswinging movement. 'By reference to Figure 1'7 it will be seen that means is provided to place the stem cavity peeling cutters in position so as to partake of a swinging movement resiliently or yieldingly inwardly .toward'and into the stem cavity of the peach, and also :a positive displacement movement "awa from the stem cavity of the peach and/or substantially up-and-down or vertical, reciprocatory movement longitudinall of the longer or suture plane :axis of the stem cavity.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, mounted upon the'whole fruit turret shaft 155 .at the top thereof is a cam 3% which is pinned to shaft as at M12. This cam is provided with a camway 305 shown also in Figure 6. 'Slidably mounted transversely of the shaft 555 is a, slide SE36, which is slotted as at 135??) to ipermitsuch movement of this slide. Suc'h slide carries-on its upper surface a roller 3 it which operates in the cam slide 3%, whereby upon rotation of the shaft 1 55, the slide is reciprocated in the'manner shown in Figure 2. This slide at one end carriesan operating arm 3l'2 provided with a roller 62 3. This roller is adapted to contact a vertical plate-like member 31 6, which is mounted upon the pivoted member 259, which swings with the assembly. A depend ing arm 318 having a cam portion 359 formed on its lower end,-is pivotally mounted at 329 on the rigid portion of the support 242, and it is provided With an inwardly extending shorter arm 322 adapted to be disposed between upper and lower screws 32- 5 and "32$,an'd'by means of their adjustment are adapted to determine "the position of the cam portion of the arm 3E8, whereby to determine the adjustment of the movement of the cutter as it approaches the peach stem cavity. Cam member 318 is adapted to contact one of the'rollers 262 carried by the sleeve 255 on the swingable shaft 252 which in turn carries the cutters, whereby to prevent'the cutters contacting the jaws ii, if no fruit be therebetween. The foregoing roller 3M, in cooperation with the plate 3 l'6,'positivelyforces the wheel'283 and the cutters out of contact with the stem cavity so as "not to interfere with the movement of the whole fruit turret and the whole fruit holding means. On'the other hand, a coil spring 328 has one "end attached as at 339 to a'ring 332 pinned to the dep nding sleeve 256, and has its opposit end fixed toa pin 334 on an actuatable arm 336 in turn fixed to an oscillatable shaft 338 hereinafter referred to, whereby the spring 328 cons'tantlytends to draw the swingable stem cavity cutter and wheel yieldingly toward the peach when the slide 3I2 and its roller 3H5 swings to the left, as viewed in Figure 17.

In addition to this movement, means is preferably provided for raising and lowering the wheel 283 and cutting mechanism in synchronized relation to the inward swinging movement of the parts toward the stem cavity. By means of this arrangement, when the rod 252 i oscillated laterally by the roller 3M on the slide 3E2, and by means of the spring 328, the rod will shift the entire frame or support 266, Which carries the wheel and cutter head, while at the same time the sleeveZSB carrying the parts may be shifted vertically withrespect to the rod 252, due to the slot and block arrangement therebetween. The means .for vertically :raising and lowering the sleeve 2575 carrying :the cutter head and Wheel 283 comprises the bard-3'5 hereinbefcre described, which, when actuated, :is adapted to raise and lower the sleeve 256 by means of contact with one of the rollers 26?; thereon. The shaft 33.8 that actuates'the bar .as shown in Figure 2, is provided :at its opposite end with a roller 3 58, which is shifted by .a cam 352 mounted on the shaft HE. Likewise, the sleeve'P l of the telescopic shaft arrangement will be raised and lowered verticallywithrespeet to the sleeve 23-5, and it also will be retained in vertical alignment by the abutment 12.38 riding in the slot formed on the sleevei e l.

In accordance with the foregoing it will be seen :that :the spring 232.3 resiliently or yieldingly pulls the wheel and the peach relatively toward each oth r, while at the same time the wheel is given a Vertical upward movement through the 'actionof the power actuated arm 336, whereby the wheel is caused to roll relatively along the convex surface of the peach and into and through the suture plane axis of the stem indent if and when the peach is in proper predeterm'inedposition.

As the peach leaves the stem cavity peeling station, it is transferred by the whole peach conveyor to the bisecting means i. e.the cutting saw Sit which operates to sever the peach through or substantially through its suture plane into suhstantiallyequal size "half portions. Referring to Figures 1, 2-3 and 24, it will be seen that "the motor driven shaft 222, previously described, at its outer end carries a pulley 352 which drives a belt the lower'end of *Which'drives a pulley 355. The latter iscarried'on a shaft 353 rotatablymounted in acarriage 368, the opposite end of shaft 858 bein connected to and arranged to operate the rotary saw blade 3%. It Will-be-seen that by reason of the connections described, the saw will be continuously rotated so long as the motor 2H3 is in operation. Carriage 36% is carried at the lower end of a swinging arm 352 adjustably mounted as indicated at 36 upon an arm 366 depending from and secured to a bearing piece 368 concentrically surroundingthe drive shaft 222.

Means is provided for swinging the arm 352 and the saw blade carried thereby in predetermined timed relation with the movements of the whole fruit turret. Referring particularly to Figure 2, it will be seen that the slide 3%, previously descr1bed, has one portion thereof extended toward the rotatable saw and has secured thereto an adjustable rod 312, Figure 23, which is in turn pivotally connected to the arm 366 by means of a bracket 378. Accordingly as the slide 305 is operated, in predetermined timed relation with the movements of the whole fruit turret, the rotatable cutting saw 3H5 will be swung toward and awayfrom the whole fruit to effect the aforementioned sawing operation through the fruit body and through the fruit pit, along the plane of the suture. As heretofore described. the holding jaws for the fruit While in the whole fruit turret are so arranged as to accommodate the movements of the cutting saw.

After the severing of each peach the peach halves are transferred from the whole fruit con veyor to the half fruit conveyor more particularly shown in Figure 2, wherein the two halves of a severed peach are deposited in the two cups that lie on each side of the spreader plates as indicated in Figures 2 and 12. In so depositing a fruit half in each cup thehalves are deposited therein with the long axis of the pit extending radially of the turret 382 so that the pitting blades will cut into the flesh of eachhalf fruit around the curved sides of the pit and the axis of pivotal movement of each blade will be parallel to the long axis of the pit. The suture plane will lie substantially in the plane of each severed half pit. Hence each half pit will be subjected to further processing operations, specifically the pitting operation described.

The sawing or'bisecting mechanism is illustrated and described in Figures 23 and 24 of the drawings. As the peach leaves the stem cavity peeling station it is transferred by the whole peach conveyor to the'cuttin; saw 316'which operates to sever the peach into substantially equal half-sized portions. From Figure 12 it will be seen that the orienting wheel,- the saw and the whole peach conveyor are so constructed as to maintain the suture plane of the fruit in the same position relative to the plane of the orienting wheel 283 and the plane of the bisecting saw 316 although the wheel and saw are in specifically different planesrelative to each other. The description of the construction and operation of this saw is set forth in issued Patent 2,420,659 of May 20,1947.

Indenture and suture plane orienting means and peach. cutting means controlled thereby and whole fruits having stem indents, and

other factors of variation, in accordance with the present invention additional peach stem indent and suture plane sensing or control or orienting mechanism, specifically in the form of sensing, gauging, and control means, is provided, as will now be described, such last named orienting mechanism forming a part of control means for controlling the operation of peach process ing mechanism, specifically a cutting means, upon the peach in predetermined reference to the peach stem indent andsuture plane.

This latter sensing control or orienting mechanism, as specifically herein disclosed, comprises a rotatable wheel adapted to have movement relatively to a whole peach and to roll relatively along the peripheral convex surface of the whole peach and then move yieldingly into the long axis of the stem indenture when the long axis or suture plane axis of the stem indenture registers with the plane of rotation of the wheel.

The entering movementof the wheelforms a part of control means for controlling the operative functioning of peach cutting means, and more specifically inhibitsthe effective operation thereof when proper entry is not made, the orienting or sensing member thus additionally serving as a rejecting or inhibiting mechanism for precluding the effective operation cf-the cutting means upon the peach when thepeach'in reference to its stem indent and suture plane, is not properly positioned. ,The orienting or control wheel is of sufiiciently large diameter with regard to the dimensions of the longitudinal or suture plane axis of the. stem indent whereby when relative motion isproducecl between the rotatabie wheel and the-whole peach, and the wheel comes in contact with the convex curvature of the whole peach and then subsequently comesinto registration with the stem indent of the whole peach, the wheel due to its said radius of curvature will enter radially into the stem indent to a maximum depth when the wheel registers with the longitudinal or suture plane axis of the stem indent, but not otherwise. When the control wheel or orienting member fails to enter the'stem indent, or enters the stem indent in a position angularly disposed in respect to the suture plane the operative functioning of the processing mechanism of the machine, specifical- 1y a cutting means as herein disclosed, is varied and appropriately controlled.

Referring specifically to the mechanism herein disclosed, the rotary wheel orienting or control means is associated directly with stem cavity peeling means disposed at a stem cavity peeling station. The present mechanism is designed efficiently to remove the peeling from the stem cavity of the whole peach, in reference to its suture plane and elongated shape. Experience has shown that in the majority of peaches the stem cavities are of elongated shape and not round, it therefore being important that the peeling operation be effected in predetermined reference to the suture plane of the stem cavity.

In the present instance the stem cavity peeler is disposed to operate upon the whole peach while the latter is held in the whole fruit turret, and is the first station of the mechanism operable upon the whole peach while in the holding jaws of this first turret. The mechanism for removing the stem cavity and peeling is shown in the drawings.

The foregoing mechanism comprises the construction and the functional operation of the mechanism shown and described in Figures 17 to 20 inclusive hereinbefore described and acting in conjunction with the turret mechanisms and jaw mechanisms hereinbefore described, including the means for oscillating the cutter about its swingable bearing pin 246 and in association therewith the cam mechanism to give the cutter the definite swinging movement whereby mechanism is provided to place the stem cavity peeling cutters in position so as to partake of a swinging movement resiliently or yieldably inwardly toward and into the stem cavity of the peach to a maximum extent when the suture plane is in alignment therewith, and also a positive displacement movement away from the stem cavity of the peach and/or substantially up and down or vertical, reciprocatory movement longitudinally of the longer or suture plane axis of the stem cavity, all as hereinbefore described.

In accordance with the foregoing it will be seen that the spring 328 resiliently or yieldingly pulls the orientation or control wheel 283 and the peach relatively toward each-other, while at the same time the wheel is given a vertical upward movement through the action of the power actuated arm 336, whereby the orienting wheel is caused to roll relatively along the convex surface of the peach and into and through the suture plane axis of the stem indent if and when the peach is in proper predetermined position.

The stem indenture of the peach in the direction of the suture plane axis merges smoothly and relatively flatly at each end with the convex surface of the peach, whereas in a direction transverse thereto the indenture is bordered by high shoulders merging relatively abruptly with the convex surface of the peach and dropping abruptly into the stem indenture. The curvature of the orienting or control wheel 283 is so 

